Florida prosecutors have charged the ex-wife of a Microsoft executive, Shanna Lee Gardner, with first-degree murder in the ambush-style killing of Jared Bridegan. State Attorney Melissa Nelson announced on Thursday that a grand jury indicted Gardner, and that the state plans to seek the death penalty against her and her current husband, Mario Fernandez Saldana. Bridegan was fatally shot in February 2022 as he exited a Jacksonville Beach neighborhood.
The murder took a sinister turn when it was revealed that a tire had been deliberately placed in the dimly lit street to force Bridegan to stop his car. As he attempted to move the tire, Bridegan was shot multiple times with his 2-year-old daughter in the vehicle. The child remained unscathed. Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith described it as a “cold blood” assassination.
Henry Arthur Tenon, the identified triggerman, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He faces a prison sentence ranging from 15 years to life, having avoided the death penalty by agreeing to testify against Gardner and Fernandez Saldana.
Nelson emphasized the collaborative nature of the crime, pointing to Gardner’s pivotal role in the calculated murder of Bridegan. Bridegan, who worked as a software developer for Microsoft, was leaving the area after visiting the twin children he shared with Gardner.
Authorities highlighted the acrimonious history between the divorced couple. Post-divorce, Gardner relocated to Washington with Fernandez Saldana, whom she married in 2018. Despite media allegations, Gardner consistently denied involvement in her ex-husband’s death.
As the case progresses, the Gardner family has called for privacy, expressing their deep sorrow. Meanwhile, Kristen Bridegan, Jared’s wife, anticipates a challenging path ahead but remains resolute in seeking justice for her late husband.
